Second Edition. Germany

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXVII, Issue 97, 25 August 1915, Page 6

Second Edition. Germany

THE ENEMY ARMIES. 3;200,030 ON BOTH FRONTS. m . . , ESTIMATE OF FORGES UNDER ARMS. IJNTTED PrKS* ASSOCIATION (Received 12.-15 p.m.) [ '■ _ London. August 24. The best information available states that the numbers el tlie enemy armies on the western and eastern 1 rents at .fitly 31 were Western 1,800,000 (Germans; Eastern, 1,400.000 Germans- and , probably 1.120,000 Austrians, making 3,2000,000 Germansnil .armed and actually in the fighting line. Besides I- these, a large number ol (Germans, principally of the Laiuhvehr and Lanstu.rni, are in garrisons, in tortihcaI tions, and on the lines of communication. Besides convalescents and- m/va!ids. it is impossible to say how lai these reserves are armed and eqnipI ped: hut the fact that the total number I ■ on the two fronts is only 3.200.000. ap- ! pears to show that it is about the largI est number the German Government, witli all its preparation and resources, is-able to put fully equipped into the I- fighting line. From a date shortly alter the outbreak of war, the Germans k : supplied the losses of their first hue reserve by men from the second and even the third line of troops, namely the Lanclwehr and Landstnnu. One can no longer speak with accuracy ol the German first line as distinguished from the second and third hues. It is to regard all in the fighting line as of the'same quality. \\ hilst the original first line has been largely j supplied from the second and third lines, the two latter classes contain a considerable leavening of die first line and reserves. In tile first few months of the war it was calculated that the first line of troops lost about fifty pci I cent, in casualties and the reserves ‘‘.about twenty-five per cent., their L places being taken by the recruits ol 1914. and by men from the remaining L categories. The units were reloimed, including the 1915 class of recruits, and since then, .again, lost fifty pel . cent, iu casualties, so that probably there remain only about twenty-fic e per cent, of the original first line, to which pitist be added the slightly r wounded, who returned to the fighting r line’.

Th“e German casualties reported' up t to 30th June were 1,672,4-14, whereof 306,123 were hilled, 13.808 died of disease, and 549.723 are either missing, prisoners, or seriously wounded and permanently out of action. I here has been very heavy fighting on both fronts since June, and a large proportion of the casualties for June and 1 I later have hot yet, been reported. An estimate of the total loss for the year provisionally Is two million. ■ .1.1 "e accept the official statement that 1,672.144 for ten months is ( correct, ■ and assume that half a million. J who 'were slightly wounded and who have , recovered are now effective, the loss may be fairly assumed at a million, exclusive, probably, of halt a million wounded, absent in hospital and on leave. Therefore, the total nett loss is 1,500.000 for the year, whereof four hundred and fifty thousand were killed.

There are no data on which to accurately calculate the number of German prisoners, ft appears probable that the Germans began the war with eight million available for service and were possibly increased by a million or 1,500.000 if every eligible gave his services. It is. remarkable that there are only 3,000.000 in the lighting line, and the only reasonable explanation is that the Germans are unable

to supply more arms, equipment, gnus and ammunition.

Germany may yet increase her equipment, hnt a considerable number ol eligible* are required lor the war lactones who are included in the eight millions. It must be remembered that half a million youths attain military age every twelve months. r lhe 15)1 I class, which is included in the eight million, had already seen service and [had contributed material. The losses of the 1914 class are probably 750,GU0, because all the men previously put hack from former classes for various reasons were called up therein. The 1915 class, called up in December, cannot he greater than doO.OOO, and has suffered inconsiderable losses. The 1916 and 1917 classes, whereof the first .are now in training, cannot be greater than four hundred thousand all together, because so many are unfit for immediate service. RUSSIAN EMBASSY CHEERED. ■ • United Press Association. (Received 1.40 p.m. ) London, August 24. There was an enthusiastic demonstration outside the Russian Kinbassy to celebrate the naval victory and the brilliant land defence. Count Bonckendorff (Ambassador), who received an ovation, expressed appreciation of England’s friendship for Russia, who, he said, would not forgot her sympathy, which had increased with her reverse's. God helping, she had had one success, and more will follow, bringing peace to Russia. England, and the whole of the world. Cheers were given for the Czar and the King. RED DROSS SOCIETY. I ■, ■ (Received 1.40 p.m.) London, August 24. Lord Sydenham hn s joined the London committee of the Australian ißiauch ol the Red Cross Society,